Resiliently expansible multisectional metallic band



Dec. 30, 1947. M. FLAIG 2,433,657

RESILIENTLY EXPANSIBLE MULTISECTIONAL METALLIC BAND Filed Oct. 7, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

I 5:- BY MAX .FLA/6 56 54 M TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENTLY EXPANSIBLE MULTI- SECTIONAL METALLIC BAND Max Flaig, North Scituate, R. I.

Application October 7, 1944, Serial No. 557,584

Claims. 1

This invention relates to resiliently expansible, multisectional metallic bands which may be used as bracelets, wrist watch straps, and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a strap of the character described which is of pleasing appearance, comprises relatively few and simple parts and can be manufactured and assembled inexpensively.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a band-which embodies the invention being used as a wrist watch strap;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a few connected links of the band in fully contracted position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of said links when fully expanded;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a few fully expanded links;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an exploded, partially broken away, perspective view of the two parts which form each link.

Referring now in` detail to the drawings, I0 denotes a band embodying the invention with its two ends pivotally secured to a wrist Watch I2. It may be mentioned that although the band is well suited for its illustrated use as a wrist watch strap, it may be employed also, with or withoutsuitable surface ornamentation, as a bracelet, or the like.

Said band comprises a plurality of telescopical links I4 which are pivotally interconnected in a manner shortly to be described. Each link includes an outer part I 6 within which an inner part I8 is slidably received in such manner that it can be moved freely from a fully contracted position, in which it is almost wholly contained within the outer part, to a fully expanded position, in which a major portion of the inner part projects from the outer part. Each part is fabricated from sheet metal by suitable cutting and forming operations and has, in general, the shape of an open-ended tube of non-circular cross- 2 section, a rectangular transverse contour being shown herein.

The outer part I6 comprises a top Wall 20, side walls 22, 24, and a bottom wall 26. Said outer part is preferably made with the two side walls 22, 24 integrally connected to the top Wall 20, and the bottom wall 26 in two sections integrally connected to the side walls 22, 24 and arranged to act jointly as a single wall. The edges of the two bottom sections abut along a line 28 extending longitudinally and centrally of said bottom wall 26. The top and bottom walls v2l), 26 are parallel and substantially plane, but they may be curved slightly, as illustrated, so that the external surface of the top wall 20 is convex and the external surface of the bottom wall 26 concave in order to provide a smooth outline to the band when it is arranged in its normal elliptical shape on display or in use.

One set of ends of the side walls 22, 24 extends beyond the corresponding ends of the top and bottom walls 2t, 26 to provide a pair of ears 3i) which are pierced to form registered apertures 32, Whose function it is to assist in pivotally interconnecting the links I4. Said ears have curved segmental convex end surfaces 3|. The other set of ends of the side walls 22, 24 have curved, segmental matching concave end surfaces 33 to permit the links to be relatively angularly moved to a limited extent, when fully contracted, without forming a gap between the side edges of adjacent links.

Said set of end surfaces 33 stop short of the corresponding ends of the top and bottom walls, as clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 6. This causes the said ends of the top and bottom walls to comprise jutting portions 34, 3B, which facilitate the interconnection of the several links and the manipulation and appearance of said links after interconn nection. For example, the top jutting portion 34 serves to conceal the space between the ears 30 when the links are contracted and are relatively arranged in an arc of not too small a radius of curvature. The free edge of said portion 34 buts against the end edge of the top wall of the outer part of the adjacent link when the links are arranged in a straight line or in an arc reverse to that of normal use. Movement of the links in such reverse direction is only stopped by abutment of the inner part I8 against said end edge of the top wall of the outer part of the adjacent link. Thus a considerable movement of the links in said direction is permitted.

The lower jutting portion 36 is shorter than the upper jutting portion 34. This permits the links to be bent freely quite far in a normal direction to form an angle therebetween of as little as 135. Extreme movement of the links in the last named direction only is limited by abutment of the inner part 36 against the end edge of the bottom wall of the outer part of the adjacent link.

This use of jutting portions of two :iiierent lengths permits adjacent links to swing freely through a predetermined limited arc of such extent that the band can fit itself easily on a wrist or the like. It will be appreciated that it is during movement through such arc that the matched edges 3I, 33 prevent the formation of a lateral gap between the links.

One of the edges of the bottom sections is provided with an integral hook 38 which extends vertically from the bottom wall 26 into the interior of the outer part I6. This hook serves as an anchor for a pull spring, soon to be described, which resiliently biasses the inner and outer parts into fully contracted relationship. Said hook is preferably disposed immediately adjacent the end of the bottom wall near the apertured ears 38. The curved pair of edges 33 of the side walls 22, 24 have registered inturned nibs 48 integrally formed at their centers.

The inner part I8 likewise consists of a top wall 42, a pair of integral dependent side walls 64, 46 and a bottom wall 48, which is formed in two coplanar sections integral with the side walls lill, :16' and abutting longitudinally and centrally of the bottom wall "i8 along a line 55. The inner part is of such conguration that it can be slidably yet snugly received within the outer part i6. The top and bottom walls i112, @.8 of the inner part i8 are, therefore, slightly curved to correspond to the curvature of the top and bottom walls 2li, 25 of the outer part l5, The external surfaces of the side walls 4, iii have grooves 58 formed therein, these grooves having a slight curvature to match that of the top and bottom walls 42, d8. Said grooves are disposed midway between the top and bottom walls and are adapted to slidably receive the nibs fi on the outer part I 6. One set of end edges of the side walls d4, 46 extends slightly beyond the corresponding edges of the top and bottom Walls 152, 48 to form ears 52, 54 which are pierced so as to provide registered apertures 56.v The grooves 58 extend from the end of the side walls, having the apertures 56 provided therein, almost all the way to the opposite ends of said side walls, but terminate short of said last named ends for a reason which will soon be apparent.

The inner part I8 is provided with a springanchoring hook 68 integrally connected to one of the edges of the bottom sections adjacent the ears 52, said hook, like the hoo-k 28, extending perpendicularly to the bottom wall 4.8 and projecting into the interior f the inner part I8.A

Every link also includes a pull spring 62, one end of which is anchored on the hook 38 and the other on the hook 60.

The links I4, due to the foregoing construction, and, particularly, to the provision of a pair of spring-anchoring means, each formed in one piece with a telescopic part and independent of the means for interconnecting the links, are capable of simple independent assembly and may be made in the following manner: The inner part I8 is completely formed so as to have the appearance shown in Fig. 6. The outer` part I6 is formed partly to the shape shown in Fig. 6, either the nibs 40 being left unturned or the sections forming the bottom wall 26 having been left coplanar with the side walls 22, 24. In either case, the inner part I8 may be fully nested within the outer part I6 with the ears 30, 52 facing in oppositedirections. Then, formation of the outer part I6 is completed.

When this has been done and the parts are in fully telescoped relationship, the inturned nibs 46 will lie in the grooves 58 just in back of the registered apertures 56 so that these apertures will be exposed on one end of the link, At the other end of the link, the hook 36 will be located adjacent the end of the bottom wall 48 of the inner part I8 to prevent said inner part from slipping rearwardly out of the outer part. Disengagement of the inner and outer parts in the opposite direction is prevented by abutment of the nibs 40 against the rear ends 64 of the grooves 58.

After the inner and outer parts I6, I8 have been assembled, the two ends of the tension pull spring 82 are anchored on the hooks 38, 60 with the spring under a slight tension. This operation may be performed by hand or with the aid lof any suitable fixture.

The band I0 is made by pivotally interconnecting a suitable number of links I4. This operation is performed as follows: Two links are so manipulated that a set of registered apertures 56 of the inner part of one of the links is received between the registered apertures 32 in the outer part of the other link. A pin such, for example, as a hollow rivet 66 is then thrust through the four registered apertures and its ends 68 spun over to prevent axial movement thereof.

The foregoing construction has many advantages. For example, the snugly fitting, non-circular and preferably rectangular cross-section of the parts in combination with the oppositely disposed grooves 58 in the side walls of the inner part, in which the nibs are received, gives the band excellent dimensional stability, so that, without using close tolerances, the strap has but little side or torsional play. The jutting portions 34, 36, ears 30, and convex side edges 33 cause gaps formed by relative angular disposition of adjacent links to be substantially concealed and give the band great iiexibility. This latter feature is valuable for display and shipping purposes and renders the link less liable to be broken by mishandling.

The independent assembly of the links has enabled the band to be made at a very low cost. This is in contrast with similar bands which, in general, have heretofore had to be assembled piece by piece; that is, each link had to be made from its component parts as its turn came to be added to the band. It will also be noticed that only a single sheet metal blank is required to make either the inner or outer part, but that the pull spring, nevertheless, can be mounted easily, thus keeping the cost of manufacture low.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a I device in which the several objects of this inven- 1. A resiliently expansible multisectional metallic band comprising a plurality of telescopical links, each of said links including an outer part and an inner part, said outer part being fabricated from sheet metal into the shape of an openended tube of certain cross-section, the inner part likewise being fabricated from sheet metal and being in the shape of an open-ended tube of cross-section similar to that of the outer part, the outer cross-sectional dimensions of said inner part being slightly less than the inner cross-sectional dimensions of said outer part s that said inner part is slidably Within said outer part, the side walls of each inner part having a groove extending longitudinally thereof from the extensible end of said inner part close but not up to the opposite end of said inner part, the side wallsof each'of the outer parts having a nib at the end thereof from which the inner part extends, each nib being slidably received in a groove whereby',

said nibs will aid in guiding relative movement of the two parts, in preventing relative turning of the two parts and in limiting extensible movement of the inner part relative to the outer part, cooperating means on the inner and outer parts to limit relative movement of said parts beyond fully contracted position in a direction from extended position, meansto pivotally interconnect the extensible end of the inner part of eachlink to the end of the outer part of an adjacentlink remote from that end of said outer part from which its inner end extends, a tension pull spring to resiliently bias said parts to fully contracted position, and a pair of spring-anchoring means, one on each of said parts, each of said last named 4means being formed in one piece with its associated part and being independent of the means for pivotally interconnecting adjacent links. y

2. A resiliently expansible multisectional metallic band comprising a plurality of telescopical links, each of said links including an outer part and an inner part, said outer part being fabricated from sheet metal into the shape of an'openended tube of non-circular cross-section, the inner part likewise being fabricated from sheet metal and being in the shape of an open-ended tube of non-circular cross-section similar to that of the outer part, the outer cross-sectional dimensions of said inner part being slightly less than the inner cross-sectional dimensions of said outer part so that said inner part is slidable within said outer part, cooperating means on said inner and outer parts to prevent the said inner part from beingslid entirely out of said outer part during expansion of said link, cooperating means on said inner and outer parts to limit relative movement of said parts beyond fully contracted Vposition in a direction from extended position, means to pivotally interconnect the extensible end of the inner part of each link to the end of the outer part of an adjacent link remote from that end of said outer part from which its inner partextends, a tension pull spring to resiliently bias said parts to fully contracted position, and a `,pair of spring-anchoring means, one on each of said parts, each of said last named means being formed in one piece with its associated part and being independent of the means for pivotally interconnecting adjacent links.

3. A resiliently expansible multisectional metallic band comprising a plurality of telescopical links, each of said links including an outer part and an inner part, said outer part being fabricatedirom'sheet metal into the shape of an openended tube of rectangular conguration, the

inner part likewise being fabricated from sheet metal and being in the shape of an open-ended tube of generally rectangular configuration'similar to that of the outer part, the outer crosssectional dimensions of said inner part being slightly less than the inner cross-sectional dimensions of said outer part so that said inner part is slidable Within said outer part, the side walls of the inner part at one of the ends thereof having registered apertures, the side walls of theopposite end of the outer part likewise having registered apertures, the registered apertures' of each inner part being aligned with the registered apertures of an outer part of an adjacent link, a pin extending through said registered apertures and captively secured therein, whereby adjacent links are pivotally interconnected, the side walls of each inner part each havinga groove extending longitudinally thereof, the side Walls of each of the outer parts each having a. nib at an end thereof opposite from that having the apertures therein, said nibs each being slidably received in one of said grooves, said grooves terminating short of the end of the inner part remote from the end having the apertures therein, whereby said nibs will both aid in guiding relative movement of the two parts and in limiting extensible movement of the inner part relative to the outer part, a tension telescoped position, and a pair of spring-anchoring hooks, one on each of said parts, each of said hooks 'being formed in one piece with its associated part and beingindependent of the pivotal interconnection of adjacent links, the hook in each part being adjacent that end thereof at which the registered apertures are disposed, whereby the hook on the outer part will limit the movement of said inner part during telescopic movement into said outer part.

4. A resiliently expansible multisectional metallic band comprising a plurality of telescopical links, each of said links including an outer part and an inner part, said outer part being fabricated from sheet metal into the shape of an open-ended tube of rectangular configuration, the inner part likewise being fabricated from sheet metal and being in the shape of an open-ended tube of generally rectangular coniiguration similar to that of the outer part, the outer cross-sectional dimensions of said inner part being slightly less than the inner cross-sectional dimensions of said outer part so that said inner part is slidable within said outer part, the side Walls of the inner part at one of the ends thereof having extending ears which are apertured in registration, the side walls of the opposite end of the outer part likewise having extending ears which are apertured in registration, the ears of the inner part extending beyond the outer part and the ears of the outer part extending beyond the inner part when said parts are in full contracted relationship, the registered'apertures of each inner part being aligned with the registered apertures of an outer part of an adjacent link, a, pin extending through said registered apertures and captively secured therein, whereby adjacent links are pivotally interconnected, the side Walls of each inner part each having a groove extending longitudinally thereof, the side walls of each of the outer parts each having a nib at an end thereof opposite from that having the apertures therein, said nibs each being slidably received in one of said grooves, said grooves terminating short of the end of the inner part remote from the end having the apertures therein, Whereby said nibs will both aid in guiding relative movement of the two parts and in limiting extensible movement of the inner part relative to the outer part, a` tension pull spring to resiliently bias said parts to fully telescoped position, and a pair of spring-anchoring hooks, one on each of said parts, each of said hooks being formed in one piece with its associated part and being independent of the pivotal interconnection of adjacent links, the hook in each part being adjacent that end thereof at which the registered apertures are disposed, whereby the hook on the outer part will limit the movement of said inner part during telescopic movement into said outer part.

5. A resiliently expansible multisectional metallic band comprising a, plurality of telescopical links, each of said links including an outer part and an inner part, said outer part being fabricated from sheet metal into the shape of an open-ended tube of rectangular configuration, the inner part likewise being fabricated from sheet metal and being in the shape of an open-ended tube of generally rectangular configuration similar to that of the outer part, the outer crosssectional dimensions of said inner part being slightly less than the inner cross-sectional dimensions of said outer part so that said inner part is slidable within said outer part, the side walls of the inner part at one of the ends thereof having registered apertures, the side walls of the opposite end of the outer part likewise having extending ears which are apertured in registration, the ears of the outer part extending beyond the inner part when said parts are infull contracted relationship, the registered apertures of each inner part being aligned with the registered apertures of an outer part of an adjacent link, a pin extending through said registered apertures and captively secured therein, whereby adjacent links are pivotally interconnected, the top and bottom walls of the outer part at' the end thereof from which the inner part extends having projecting ledges, the side-walls of each inner part each having a groove extending longitudinally thereof, the side walls of each of the outer parts each having a nib at an end thereof opposite from that having the apertures therein, said nibs each being slidably kreceived in one of said grooves, said grooves terminating short of the end of the inner part remote from the end having the apertures therein, whereby said nibs will both aid in guiding `relative movement of the two parts and in limiting extensible movement'of the inner part relative to the outer part, a tension pull spring to resiliently bias said parts to fully telescopecl position, and a pair of spring-anchoring hooks, one on each ofsaid parts, each of said hooks being formed in one piece with its associated part and being independent of the pivotal interconnection of adjacent links, the hook in each part being adjacent that end thereof at which the registered apertures are disposed, whereby the hook on the outer part will limit the movement of said inner part during telescopic movement into said outer part.

` 6. A band as set forth in claim wherein each part is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, the side walls of the link extending from the top wall and the bottom wall being formed in two sections, each extending from one of the side walls, said two vsections abutting approximately centrally and longitudinally of the part.

7. A band as set forth in claim 5 wherein each part is formed from a single piece of sheet metal, the side walls of the link extending from the top wall and the bottom wall being formed in two sections, each extending from one of the side walls. said two sections abutting approximately centrally and longitudinally of the part and the hook extending integrally from one of said abutting edges.

8. A band as set forth in claim 5 wherein the projecting ears at one end of each of the side walls of the outer part are convexly curved and the opposite end of each of said side walls is concavely curved to approximately match the curvature of said ears, whereby the links may be relatively angularly moved when in fully contracted position without forming a gap between the side edges of adjacent links.

9. A link assembly for an expansible band comprising a pair of tubular members disposed in telescopical relation, a hook member integral with the inner side wall of each of said members, and a tension spring having its ends anchored to said hook members to hold the tubular members in contracted relation.

10. A link assembly for an expansible band comprising a pair of sheet metal tubular members disposed in telescopical relation, each of said members having a longitudinal seam along a side wall thereof, a hook member extending from the edge of each of said tubular members at the seam end and formed integrally with said member, and a tensioned spring having its ends anchored to said hook members to hold the tubular members in contracted telescopical relation.

11. A link assembly for an expansible band comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member, said inner tubular member slidably fitting said outer member, each of said members having an integral projection extending from the inner side wall thereof, and a tension spring disposed between said projections, one end of said tension spring being anchored to a projection on one tubular member and the other anchored to a projection on the other tubular member to hold the members in contracted relation.

12. A link assembly for an expansible band comprising a pair of tubular members disposed in telescopical relation, each of said members being formed from a sheet metal blank, having a hook member in one piece therewith extending from an edge thereof and projecting inwardly when said blanks are shaped to constitute said tubular members, and a tension spring having its ends anchored to said hook members.

13. A link assembly for an expansible band comprising a pair of tubular members disposed in telescopical relation, each of said members formed from a sheet metal blank having a reduced portion in. one piece with and extending from an edge of said blank and bent inwardly to extend from a longitudinal seam when said blank is shaped to constitute a tubular member, and a tension spring having its ends anchored to a reduced portion on each member to hold the members in contracted relation.

14. A link assembly for an expansible band comprising a pair of tubular members disposed in telescopical relation, each of said members formed from a sheet metal blank having a reduced portion in one piece with and extending from an edge and at one end of said blank, said portion being bent inwardly to extend from a longitudinal seam when said blank is shaped to constitute a tubular member, and a tension spring having its ends anchored to said reduced portions to hold the members in contracted relation.

15. A link assembly for an expansible band comprising a pair of tubular sections disposed in telescopical relation, each section being formed REFERENCES CITED from a sheet metal blank shaped to provide a longitudinal seam along the bottom wall of each The following references are of record in the section, said seams being located in a common le of this patent:

plane, an anchor member in each section extend- 5 ling inwardly from the edge of said member at said UNITED STA'I ES PATENTS seam and in one piece with said blank, and a ten- Number Name Date sion spring having the ends thereof connected to 1,056,528 Foster Mar. 18, 1913 said anchor members to hold the sections in nor- 1,629,976 Smith May 24, 1927 mal contracted relation. 10 2,302,426 DOmler Nov. 17, 1942 MAX FLAIG, 2,388,554 Kreisler et al Nov. 6, 1945 

